Typewriter carrier



April 6, 1954 B. E. RICHARDSON 2,674,508

TYPEWRITER CARRIER 7 Filed Jan. 10, 1951' 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 73,8 I I ibm amlfiflichardson ATTORNEYS April 6, 1954 B. E. RICHARDSONTYPEWRITER CARRIER Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi id 'Jan. 10, 1951 INVENTORTEJ$VAESR1ChGTdSOU ATTORNEYS April 1954' B. E. RICHARDSON 2,674,508

TYPEWRITER CARRIER Filed Jan. 10, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fi .9 i J J 9 f6 A? 1/] 7 f F3310. a I 3 5 &\\\ 7 g 46' ll I 55/ 9 9 wk j g 27 I 77 E 23% {40m ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICETYPEWRITER CARRIER Bayard E. Richardson, Largo, Fla. Application January10, 1951, Serial No. 205,305 4 Claims. (Cl. 312-29) The presentinvention relates to typewriter carriers of the kind which are used instenoggraphers desks, for supporting a typewriter in operative positionoutside of the desk and in which the typewriter, when not in use, may belowered and moved to a concealed position within the desk.

I have heretofore obtained a Patent No. 1,933,933, for a typewritercarrier which achieves such general purposes and which has beencommercially produced for many years. The present invention has for itsobjects and purposes many improvements thereover and the attainment ofmany advantages, among which is control of the vertical travel of thetypewriter and its support; novel means for locking the typewriter at anindefinite number of positions to which it is vertically movable, suchreleasable locking in any of such positions being easily accomplishedand without wear of the locking or holding parts of the mechanism;greatly simplifying the mechanism and rendering it much more economicalto produce and assemble; producing a device of the character statedwhich is readily and easily installed and serviced after it is in use,and a universality of installation in desks of varying width and heightdimensions, and also its easy application to many special conditions ofdesks and the like without the necessity of using additional and specialparts for such applications; elimination of close machine tolerances ofthe parts used in my prior invention; a ready adaptation which permitschanges in desk design and construction which my prior invention was notpossible; a packing for shipment much more easily obtained and in muchsmaller bulk, reducing shipping costs; thus not only making a bettermore flexible and greatly improved typewriter carrier, but one in whichthe cost of manufacture is greatly reduced over what the typewritercarrier of my earlier invention costs. Therefore, with greatly increasedmaterial and labor costs of the present time, the typewriter carrier ofthis invention can be economi cally produced and sold, while theconstruction shown in my Patent No. 1,933,933, because of its high laborcosts is rapidly approaching, if it has not reached, a place where it isno longer competitive in its field.

For the attainment of the objects and purposes enumerated, as well asothers not stated but which will be apparent upon understanding of theinvention, I have produced, as an embodiment of my invention, thestructure described in the following description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section from front to rear through a desk having mytypewriter carrier housed therewithin.

Fig. 2 is a similar, enlarged, fragmentary section showing thetypewriter carrier elevated to an upper position and extended outwardlyat the front of the desk, as when it is used.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, substantially on the plane ofline 3-3 of Fig. 1, said section being transverse of the typewritercarrier.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, enlarged, of the lower frontportion of the carrier in its lowermost position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the inner portion of thecarrier showing the mounting of the spring actuated drums connected withthe carrier for elevating it when free to do so.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation of the rear end of theoutwardly and inwardly movable carriage upon which the typewriter issupported.

Fig. 7 is an inner side elevation of the lower end portion at one sideof the carrier, the immediate typewriter carriage being removed, withsome parts in section, the view being taken substantially at the planeof line 7--1 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating a detail of structure ofthe front posts of the carrier and upon which the typewriter carriage ismounted for vertical movements, used in looking the typewriter carrieragainst upward movement when housed within the desk, and

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a locking plate or bar used for locking thetypewriter carrier in vertical position.

Fig. 10 is an end view thereof, and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary end elevation of one of the typewriter carriageplates which are vertically movable showing the eccentric mounting of ashaft which actuates the locking plates or bars.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the diiferent figuresof the drawings.

The desk or desk pedestal in which the typewriter carrier is mounted,may have a top I, bottom 2, vertical sides 3, and back 4, and be closedat its front by a door 5, preferably of the disappearing type, that is,swung outwardly and upwardly at its lower edge to a horizontal positionand then pushed to the rear underneath the top I.

Within the compartment of the desk made by such top, bottom ends andback, and adjacent to but spaced a short distance from each verticalside 3, a vertical post 6 in the form of a flat bar is permanentlysecured a short distance back of the open front. Each post ispermanently welded, riveted or otherwise connected to lower and upperattaching brackets 1 and 3 of flat metal which may be screw connected atthe inner sides of the adjacent ends 3 of the desk. The posts or bars 6are rectangular in cross section.

On each of the posts 6 a fiat plate 9 of metal mounted for verticalmovements. Grooved rollers it, one at the lower outer corner and theother at the upper inner corner of each plate 9 (Fig. 7) bear againstopposite edges of the posts Such plates 9, forming a part of the movabletypewriter carrier, are thusvertically movable on the post 6. Oppositeeach of the rollers it the edges of the posts 6 may be engaged byflanges ll, formed one at each side and at the opposite end portions ofvertical locking bars or members l2, which are madefrom metal. Such barsl2, in addition to the flanges ll extending at right angles therefrom,irerinediate their ends are each provided with two spaced forwardlyextending fingers l3 (Figs. 4 and '7), the uppermost of each of whichterminates in a laterally turned ear' to which the lower end of a coiledtension spring I4 is connected, the upper end of each spring havingconnection to a similar car at the upper end of its associated plate 9.The springs when free to act tend to move the locking bars 12 upwardly.

Each of the members [2 is formed adjacent each end. with short inclinedslots l5, closed at both ends into which pins [6 having collars-orrollers thereon on the plates 9 extend. When the locking members H aremoved upwardly until stopped by the rollers on pins lficoming againstthe lower closed ends of the slots i5,

the flanges H are brought snugly against the adjacent edges of the posts6, and, with the opposed rollers l0, releasably binding the flanges i iagainst such posts; On downward movement of the locking members [2,slots [5 traverse the rollers on pins l6 and the flanges ll separatefrom the adjacent edges of the posts 6, freeing the plates for movementsalong the posts 6.

A shaft H extends horizontally between the plates 9 and at its ends iseccentrically mounted for rocking movements. Such shaft passes throughthe slots between the spaced fingers it, the shaft bearing atdiametrically oppositeupper and lower sides against adjacent fingers.Such eccentric mounting is by securing the ends of the shafts intocollars l8a, one at each end, eccentrically with respect thereto, suchcollars passing through and being rotatablymounted in the plates 9 asshown in Fig. 11. A-sleeve is secured to theshaft l1 and at its underside has an integral guide sleeve [9 at right angles thereto in which arod is slidably mounted. Rod 20 at its front end is provided with a ballfor hand engagement so that when said rod is pulled outwardly (Fig. 7)theshaft may be rocked by handle movement between the full line positionshown in Fig. 7, and the line position.

In the full line position of the rod 20, shown in Fig. '7, the lockingmembers l2 will be moved downwardly to bring the flanges H into bind ingholding engagement with the adjacent edges of the post 6, so as to clampthe posts 6 at two spaced apartpositions, in the length thereof, betweenthe rollers. l0 and the flanges H.

On movement to the upper dash line position of the handle shown in Fig.7, the springs 14 move the locking members l2 upwardly, the rotation ofthe shaft I! by reason of its eccentric mounting and engagement with thefingers l3 lifting it bodily and the plates 9 are released. When thetypewriter carrier is housed within the desk (Fig. 1) rod 20 is pushedto the rear.

At the rear lower edge portions of each of the plates 9 a wide slot orrecess 2| is made, open at its rear end. A covering cylinder 22 of thinsheet metal at its ends is connected with bearing sleeves 23 and 24,each of which has a pair of spaced annular ribs thereon. Such sleevesare received in the recesses 2| and are located and held by the annularribs coming one at each side of the plates 9 at the front or closed endsof said recesses. A horizontal shaft 25 extends lengthwise of andthrough cylinder 22 and the sleeves 23 and 24, being mounted forrotation in said sleeves on anti-friction bearings 26; At each end ofthe shaft 25, at the outer side of each plate 9, a drum 21 is locatedand has a central hub, such hubs being keyed or otherwise permanentlysecured to the ends of the shaft 25. A spiral spring 28 is within eachof the drums 21. The outer end of each spring is anchored to a' drum 2!and the inner end to its associated sleeve 23 or 20. A connecting cablein the form of a flat tape 29 winds around the outer peripheral portionsof each drum 2'1, being connected thereto at one end, leading upwardlyand having connection at opposite ends to the upper brackets 8.

The sleeve 24, longer than sleeve 23, has thereon, at the inner side ofits adjacent plate 9, a worm wheel 30, operatively engaging with whichis a worm 3! on a short horizontal shaft 32, which is-mounted forrotation on a bracket 33 fastened to the inner side of the adjacentplate 9. The free forward end of the shaft 32 may be turned by anappropriate hand tool to adjust the tension of the springs 28.

The springs 28 having a desired tension and force when free to do soturn the drums 2'? clockwise (Figs. 1 and 3) to wind the connectingtapes 28 thereon, and lift the plates 9 and the parts mounted thereonfrom the lower to an upper position. If at-the lower position as in Fig.1, the door 5 is moved to open the front of the desk, rod 20 pulledoutwardly and tilted upwardly at its outer end, the plates 9 arereleased which thereupon will move upwardly until stopped by a downwardpush upon the outer end of the rod 20. It will be apparent that suchstopping may take place at any selected position of said plates 9 andparts carried thereby between the lowermost and the uppermost positionwhich such plates may take on posts 6. It is also evident that theupward movement may be readily controlled by a braking action obtainedthrough pressing downwardly with controlled pressure upon the outer endof the rod 29 during such upward movement, so as to cause greater orless friction of the flanges H against the edges of the posts 6, therebyreadily and easily controlling such upward movement until a desiredupper position is reached, whereupon the handle rod 20 is forceddownwardly to make a locking binding engagement of the flanges llagainst the edges of the posts 5, one at each edge of each post, therollers 10, one opposite each flange ll, being forced snugly against associated edges of the posts.

A horizontally movable carriage upon which the typewriter is mounted islocated between the spaced plates 9. Such carriage comprises anintermediate horizontal platform 34 (Fig. 3), with heavier longitudinalside rails 35, one at each longitudinal edge, connected to which, at therear portions of the rails 5 and at the outer sides thereof, are metalplates 36 having inwardly turned upper and lower flanges 36a extendingunder and over the rear portions of the side rails 35 and permanentlysecured thereto. Each plate 36 is preferably of the form best shown inFig. 6, being widened upwardly at its front end portion and downwardlyat its rear end portion as shown, and having rollers 31 mounted at thefront upper portion of each plate and at the lower rear portion thereof,such rollers being at the outer sides of the metal plates 36. Therollers 31 are grooved and ride upon the upper and lower edges of horizontal tracks 38 which are permanently connected at and spaced from theinner sides of the plates 9, extending therefrom rearwardly into thedesk compartment. The two spaced track bars 33 are preferably connectedby a crossrod 39 at their rear ends. A vertical, transverse panel 40 issecured at the upper side of the carriage substantially at the frontends of the plates 36 to substantially close the front opening of thedesk above the horizontal carriage when such carriage is moved to itsouter position with the typewriter, as shown in Fig. 2 in dash lines, infront of and at the upper position at which it is used.

Associated with each of the carriage side plates 36 is a locking plateor member 4| similar to the locking members 12 previously described. Thelocking members 4| have each a front flange 42 at the lower edge andfront end portion thereof, and a similar flange 42 at the upper edge andat the rear end portion. Said flanges being extended at right angles tothe planes of the members 4!, the front flange underneath its associatedtrack bar 38 and the rear flange over the upper edge thereof (Fig. 6).Such horizontal locking bars 4! have short slots 43 with closed endsinclined to the horizontal as shown, into which pins 43a mounted uponthe adjacent plates 36 extend for the locking and releasing of thehorizontally movable typewriter carriage with respect to the rails 38.From the middle portion and at the lower edge of each of the lockingmembers M a projection 44. extends downwardly and carries a laterallyextending pin 45 which extends from the projecting portion 44 underneaththe adjacent track bar 38.

A latching dog 46 (Fig. 7) is pivotally mounted between its upper andlower end portions at 41, one on each of the plates 9, the upper portionof each dog being between its plate 9 and the adjacent track 33. Fromthe upper end of each latching dog 46 a horizontal pin 48 passesoutwardly through a short slot 49 in the associated plate 9. The pins 48will enter semi-circular recesses 6a in the rear edges of the posts 6and latch the typewriter carrier in its lowermost position to hold it insuch position when the typewriter carrier is at its lowermost position.

Such latches 46 must be released in order that the typewriter may beelevated to the position where the typewriter is operated. Releaseoccurs when, on outward movement of the horizontal carriage upon whichthe typewriter is mounted on the tracks 39, pins 45 strike against thedownwardly projecting lower end portions of the latch members 46 therebyswinging them clockwise (Fig. 7) and moving the pins 48 out of therecesses 6a of posts 6. Therefore, with the carrier in its lowermostposition as in Fig. 1, and locked in such position against any verticalmovement, such vertical movement can take place only after thehorizontal carriage has been moved outwardly over the tracks 38 and thepins 48 moved out of the keeper recesses 6a therefor. This frees thecarrier for upward movement upon the posts 6. Such upward movement willtake place because of the winding force of the springs 28 which willautomatically wind the tapes 29 on the drums 2? as soon as the handlerod 20 has been pulled to outer position and lifted at its outer end torelease the clamping engagement of the flanges II and. the rollers IDfor freeing the carrier for such upward movement.

When the carriage is moved outwardly on the tracks 38, upon reachingoutermost position the members 4| are automatically moved relative tothe carriage horizontally to the rear, elevating each at its front endand lowering them at their rear ends when pins 45 are stopped on fullengagement with latches t5, the carriage continued in its forwardoutward movement, to bring the flanges t2 into a binding engagementagainst the opposite edges of the tracks 38 and, in conjunction with theopposed rollers 31, looking the horizontally movable carriage againstmovement upon the tracks 38 until released. Substantially simultaneouslypin 45 strikes the latch 46, turning it clockwise (Fig. '7), to releasepins 48 from the recesses 6c. The pin 45 is received in the recess atthe lower portion of the latch 46 and is held by the upper prong of saidlatch over said recess until the latch returns to its initial position.Such return can take place only when the type writer is at its lowestposition on the posts 6, that is, when the pins 48 come opposite therecesses Ba and enter them. Pins 48 are thereupon released and thecarriage is freed to move to the rear into the desk compartment.

In the operation with the carriage housed within the desk compartment,as in Fig. 1, after the door 5 is open and pushed back underneath. thetop I, the horizontally moving carriage must be pulled forward on thetracks 38 to its outermost position, to turn the latch members 46 to getthe pins 48 out of the recesses 6a. Springs 28 thereupon tend to movethe plates 9 and tracks 38 upwardly together with the typewriter and itscarriage, winding the tapes 29 upon the drums 21. The upward movementwill take place as soon as the handle rod 20 has been pulled outwardlyand lifted upon at its outer end to release the binding or lockingengagement of the flanges l I against the edges of the posts 6. The pins43 being held against the edges of the posts it above the recesses 6a,latches 48 retain the pins 45 so that the horizontal carriage is lockedagainst return movement which, if it occurred with the carriage liftedto an upper position, would cause the typewriter, shown in dash lines inFig. 2, to come against the desk top. When the carrier for thetypewriter has reached an upper position it is locked therein by pushingdownwardly upon the handle rod 20 thus insuring that the typewritershall be maintained in a stable condition.

When the typewriter is to be returned and moved into the deskcompartment, its carrier first must be lowered, lifting upwardly at theouter end of the handle rod 20 to release it for lowering on the posts 6and pressing downwardly upon the carrier so as to move it until, atlowermost position, the pins 45 are released when the pins 48 arebrought to and enter the recesses at 6a. At such lowermost position thecarrier is releasably locked; against upward movement bypushing-the'handle-rod' 20 downwardly at its outer end. The handle rodhis then moved to inner position, as in Fig. 1, and the horizontalcarriage with the typewriter thereon moved to the rear on the tracks 38.

The structure described attains all of the objects and purposes firststated in a particularly simple and practical manner. Diiierent widthsof desk or desk pedestals merely require that the shafts I1 and Hand thecylinder cover 22 shall be cut to different standard lengths for thewidths of the pedestals. The-posts 5 may alsobe cut to length to conformto different heights of the desk or desk pedestal compartments.Otherwise all of the remainder of this structure is the same except theplatformsfikwill be of varying widths in accordance with differenthorizontal widths of the desk or desk pedestal compartments. The machinetolerances required in the fabrication of theparts are greater than inthe structure shown in my prior patent, thus lessening costs.Installation and also repair are much more easily ac complished.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A device as described comprising, two spaced vertical posts, each atits lower end having a recess therein at an edge thereof, an elevatingstructure mounted for vertical movement on said posts, a carriagemounted for horizontal movements on said elevating structure, latchesmovably mounted on said elevating structure one adjacent each post, eachof said latches having an element thereof adapted to enter the recess inits associated post when such structure is in lower position, means onsaid carriage adapted to engage said latches when the said carriage ismoved in one direction of its movement to an extreme position toautomatically move said elements out of said recesses and release theelevating structure for vertical movement, and spring actuated means forelevating said elevating structure and the carriage carried therebyuponrelease of said latch elements from said recesses.

2. A structure as defined in clai: 1, said means engaging said latchesto move them comprising pins on said carriage engageable with thelatches, said latches having spaced fingers one engaged by each of saidpins to move the latches to release the elevating structure for upwardmovement, and the other automatically moved into the reverse path ofmovement of said pins to hold the carriage against reverse horizontalmovement until the elevating structure is returned to its lowermostposition.

3. In astructure asdescribed, two spaced vertical side posts, generallyrectangular in cross section, an elevating structure mounted on saidposts including rollers engaging opposite edges of the posts, a carriagemounted for horizontal movement on the elevating structure, a brakingand holding member associated with each post mounted on-said elevatingstructure at the ends thereof, each including a vertical member locatedalongside its adjacent post and each having a flange at each end thereoflocated acrossedges of the post with which associated, opposite therollers carrying said elevating structure, manually operable meansextending between said vertical members for raising and lowering saidmembers, and means mounting the members on said elevating structure forbodily moving said members toward or away from bearing engagement withsaid posts, for frictional or holding engagement with said posts and forrelease thereof.

4. In a structure'as described, two vertical spaced side posts generallyrectangular in cross section, an elevating structure mounted on saidposts, including rollers engaging on opposite edges of the posts, acarriage mounted for horizontal movement on the elevating structure, abraking and holding member associated with each post mounted on saidelevating structure at the ends thereof, each including a verticalmember located alongside its adjacent post and each having a flange ateach end thereof and located across the edges of the post with whichassociated, opposite the rollers carrying said elevating structure, eachof said brakingand holding members having at an edge thereof a pair ofspaced holding fingers, a horizontal shaft eccentrically mounted at itsends on said elevating structure extending from one post to the other,said shaft passing through the spaces between the fingers on both ofsaid braking and holding members, and a handle connected with saidshaftfor manually rockingthe same to raise or lower said braking and holdingmembers and simultaneously shift said members to engage or release saidflanges of the braking members relative to said posts in accordance withthe direction in which said shaft is rocked.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,146,369 Stringe July 13, 1915 2,076,938 Chandler Apr. 13,1937 2,215,978 Schad Sept. 24, 1947 2,428,211 Fox Sept. 30, 1947

